Repayment Options & Calculators

Before your loan goes into repayment you'll need to select a repayment
plan that best fits your financial situation. If you need assistance or
further information, be sure to contact your loan servicer and use the
online calculators that will help you determine your payment amount. You
will be allowed to choose from these plans:

Standard Repayment

Under the Standard Repayment Plan, you will pay a fixed amount of at
least $50 each month for up to 10 years. For most borrowers, this plan
results in the lowest total interest paid because the repayment period is
shorter than it would be under any of the other repayment plans.

Graduated Repayment

This plan may be beneficial if your income is low when you leave school
but is likely to steadily increase. Payments start out low and then
increase every two years. The minimum payment equals the amount of
interest that accrues monthly for up to the maximum repayment period - 10
years for Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford and PLUS Loans, and 10-30
years for Consolidation Loans (depending on the total loan
indebtedness).

Extended Repayment

You may choose this plan if you did not have an outstanding balance on
a FFEL or Direct Program loan as of October 7, 1998 or on the date you
obtained a student loan after that date and have more than $30,000 in
outstanding Direct Loan Program loans (Note: FFEL and Direct Loans cannot
be combined to meet this minimum). Under this plan:

you may choose to make either fixed or graduated monthly payments

the minimum payment for a fixed extended payment plan is $50 per
month

the maximum repayment period is 25 years

Income Contingent Repayment (ICR)

Available for Direct Loans only, this plan bases the monthly payment
on your yearly income, family size and loan amount. As your income rises
or falls, so do your payments. After 25 years of making payments, any
remaining balance on your loan will be forgiven (although you may have to
pay taxes on the forgiven portion).*Note: High loan debt and low income
could possibly mean a calculated payment of $0 under this plan.

Income-Based Repayment (IBR)

Available for FEEL, Direct Stafford, Grad PLUS and Consolidation loans
(that did not repay a Parent PLUS) that are not in default, this plan
requires monthly payments that are capped at an amount intended to be
affordable based on your income and family size. The maximum repayment
period is 25 years, and if certain requirements are met, any remaining
balance will be forgiven (cancelled). For new borrowers on or after
7/1/2014, the outstanding loan balance will be forgiven after 20 years of
making payments under this plan.

Eligibility: you are eligible to repay your loan under
IBR if the monthly payment calculated under the Standard repayment plan is
more than the IBR monthly payment amount. You must document your 'partial
financial hardship' (PFH) by providing your AGI or alternative income
documentation annually on your IBR anniversary date to determine your
eligibility and calculate your IBR payment amount. If you no longer
qualify for PFH at your annual evaluation, your payments will be
recalculated on a 10-year Standard Repayment plan, and unpaid interest is
capitalized (added to the loan's principle balance).